Indian Tribe to Give Big to Bustamente

[Bushfire]

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - A wealthy American Indian tribe plans to donate $2 million for Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's campaign for governor — the latest example of a campaign finance loophole allowing big spending in the California recall race.

The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians said Tuesday it was donating the maximum $21,200 to the Democratic lieutenant governor's recall campaign committee, and spending $480,000 on an independent expenditure campaign to promote his "No on recall, yes on Bustamante" message in two Southern California counties.

The tribe, which operates a lucrative casino in San Diego County, said it was also putting $1.5 million into Bustamante's 2002 re-election campaign account. Because that committee was created before California's new campaign finance law took effect, it is not subject to the contribution caps imposed on newer campaign accounts, allowing Bustamante to avoid the limits.

Campaign aides said they believe the law allows them to transfer money from the older campaign account without contribution limits into the new campaign account that operates under the limits — despite a memo last week from the state's Fair Political Practices Commission saying that is not allowed. more...

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